Summary

  • Somerset close on 227-7 - lead by 191

  • Somerset opener Lammonby makes 116

  • Essex close on 337-8 with first-innings lead of 36

  • Team with best first-innings score wins trophy if game drawn

Live Reporting

Gary Smee

  1. Somerset 0-0

    Green 0, Lammonby 0

    Three maidens in a row and a second for Jamie Porter.

    An understandably watchful start by the Somerset batsmen in this testing period before lunch.

  2. Somerset 0-0

    Green 0, Lammonby 0

    Sam Cook, five wickets in the first innings, shares the new ball and begins with a maiden of his own.

    Ben Green and Tom Lammonby will just be happy to see it through to lunch. 17 minutes away.

  3. Somerset 0-0

    Green 0, Lammonby 0

    Ben Green is beaten by a beauty outside off stump from Jamie Porter. Maiden to start.

  4. Somerset 0-0

    Green 0, Lammonby 0

    The players are back out and Jamie Porter will get things started for Essex.

    Ben Green and Tom Lammonby with a tough 20 minutes or so to see out before lunch.

  5. Somerset 301 v Essex 337-8

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Lord's

    So how will Somerset approach this tricky period of just under 30 minutes before lunch?

    Try and rattle off that 36-run deficit as quickly as possible or just sit in and bide their time?

    Essex can certainly afford to go on the attack now knowing they have the "insurance policy" of a first-innings lead?

  6. 'Essex hold more cards but Somerset are not out of it'

    Varun Chopra
    Essex batsman on BBC 5 Radio Live Sports Extra

    Alastair Cook got pretty much half of the Essex total, he lead from the front and held the batting line-up together. It was an exhibition of good batsmanship.

    Now Essex have a lead of 36 they will be very happy with that, they hold a few more cards but Somerset are no means out of the game.

  7. Somerset 301 v Essex 337-8

    So what's the plan for Somerset from here?

    Firstly, wipe off the deficit of 36... then build a lead of 200 maybe? Two and a bit sessions to bowl Essex out?

    Of course the weather may have a say too. Or Essex might run through Somerset with the ball. So many potential plots and sub-plots.

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    Adam Savoury: This 120 over limit is supposed to improve cricket is it? Nine men out on the boundary and nothing happening. Nonsense rule.

    It did make the live text commentary rather difficult for the last 30 minutes Adam!

  9. ESSEX INNINGS FINISHES

    Somerset 301 v Essex 337-8

    120 overs is up and Essex close their first innings with a lead of 36.

    Somerset are still in the game, but they'll need to win it to lift the trophy. If it's a draw, Essex are champions by virtue of their better first-innings score.

    Adam WheaterGetty Images

  10. Essex 334-8

    Wheater 24, Beard 13

    Intent from Aaron Beard! The left-hander has a couple of swings at Josh Davey but they only bring him a couple of singles.

    Last over of the innings to come...

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    Ben Hughes: This is definitely suiting Essex to squeeze in the 2nd innings. Porter and Sam Cook will give nothing, then Harmer will attack.

    Herb Acius: Can’t look away when @craigoverton12 is bowling. Good hostile spell this; not really going for runs either.

  12. Essex 329-8

    Wheater 21, Beard 11

    Craig Overton shows his frustration by banging in a couple halfway down the track.

    Three singles off the over. These two have been at the crease for 45 minutes now and done a really good job for Essex.

    Two overs left in the innings.

  13. Essex 326-8

    Wheater 19, Beard 10

    Another over worth a couple off Josh Davey.

    Three to go. Essex lead by 25.

    Adam WheaterRex Features

  14. 'It'll be hard work for Somerset to get to 300 again'

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

    There's an element of waiting to see how Somerset cope with an inexperienced line-up.

    They managed to get 300 in the first innings, it'll be hard work to get there again.

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    Vic Phillips: There should be an official stat for number of innings in first-class cricket that would be much less useful if it hadn't been for Alastair Cook.

    Maybe something like "The Cook Factor" or "The Chef Index"?

  16. Essex 324-8

    Wheater 19, Beard 8

    Four overs left in this Essex innings. It feels like everyone is just waiting for it to end now. Including me.

    A couple of singles off Craig Overton's 27th.

  17. Essex 322-8

    Wheater 18, Beard 7

    The sun's gone in at Lord's and it looks as though there's a bit of rain on the way. Hopefully it'll arrive during lunch.

    Three singles off Josh Davey's latest over as Essex continue to plod along merrily. Five overs left of their first-innings 120.

  18. Essex 319-8

    Overton 26-6-58-1

    Craig Overton replaces Lewis Gregory at the Pavilion End and starts with a maiden.

    Aaron Beard has a flash at one and it sneaks past the outside edge. More misery for Overton.

  19. 'It's been Essex's morning'

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

    It has been Essex's morning, they've got to target number one getting that first-innings lead and they are whittling away to increase that lead.

    It's not an easy pitch to play flowing shots it seems.

  20. Essex 319-8

    Wheater 16, Beard 6

    Couple of singles off Josh Davey's 20th over. The Somerset paceman is still wicketless.